A Grinchy burglar stole presents from beneath a Christmas tree in a Covington-area home Tuesday in one of a spate of break-ins and suspicious activity during the day, authorities said.

The burglar broke into the home on Louisiana 1084 while its residents were at work, and the break-in wasn't noticed until they returned home at night, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman George Bonnett said.

Deputies also responded to several attempted burglaries during the day, including one on Louisiana 36, Bonnett said. In that case, the burglar in a gray T-shirt broke a window and was trying to enter a house but fled when the owner discovered the break-in and pointed a gun at him, the spokesman said.

Other attempted burglaries were reported in the River Glen subdivision, where a man tried to enter two homes, Bonnett said. The man knocked on the doors of the houses but fled when one resident answered the door and when he was unable to open the door to the other, he said.

Based on descriptions from the victims, deputies believe the same man is responsible in all of the cases, Bonnett said. While the descriptions are incomplete, he said the man was driving a light colored Chrysler car.

Bonnett asked that anyone with information on the break-ins call Detective Jerry Coyne at 985-276-1329.